Review by Mmurfin -- The Senator's Suitcase by Mitch Engel

[Mmurfin]

[Following is a volunteer review of "The Senator's Suitcase" by Mitch Engel.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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The Senator's Suitcase: A Story of Love and Legacy by Mitch Engel is a gripping novel that follows Troy Davenport's journey to uncover his mother’s past and her many secrets. The publically-adored Senator was never close to her son and when she dies unexpectedly he is baffled to discover a mysterious briefcase in a storage unit. Convinced his mother was secretly just another corrupt politician, Troy begins digging into his famous mother’s life and every answer spawns new questions until his whole reality is uprooted. At it’s core, this is a story of love, devotion, and the complexities of morality.

I especially like that this book changes perspectives, but only after you’ve fully committed to one character's experiences and beliefs. Since it doesn’t flip-flop perspective like some books, it doesn’t impede the flow of reading or create any unnecessary confusion. It also challenges you to relearn what you thought you knew and adapt – just as the characters have. There is also an inherent lesson in empathy which feels especially needed in our current climate.

There was only one thing I didn’t particularly like because it actually pulled me out of the story momentarily and made me aware of the writer. When we’re first learning about Troy he narrates, “…I'm not sure I was raised. Mostly, I was molded. Molded into what she had needed me to be.” Then, not long after, a similar idea is expressed in a nearly identical sentence structure. Since it caught my attention the first time I noticed it the second time and I feared it was going to become a frequent writer’s trick. Thankfully, it didn’t happen again.

I think this book will especially appeal to readers who are interested in LGBTQ topics and those interested in complex family dynamics. The decades spanned in the book allows for an interesting view of how societal views on both those topics have changed. However, readers weary of stories involving abuse and sexual innuendo may want to steer clear of this novel. There is nothing graphic, but it’s worth noting.

Overall, I rate The Senator’s Suitcase 4 out of 4 stars. It is a complex story that keeps readers engaged and just when you think you’ve figured it out, you’ll be surprised again. The narrative unfolds at a quick pace so it should grab and hold readers' attention from the start. It is also very well edited and thus an easy read.

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The Senator's Suitcase
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[Hazel Arnaiz]

Comparing how society views LGBTQ topics and complex family dynamics, then and now, sounds interesting. Thanks for the insights.